A brocho is said on water only if he is drinking the water due to thirst. If he is drinking it for other reasons, such as to help him down an aspirin, a brocho is not said. The same is not true regarding other liquids. If one is using juice along with his medicine, he should first say a brocho on the juice, drink some of it, take the medicine and then drink more.

If one is not sure whether he said a brocho rishono or not, he does not say over the brocho.

Prior to saying the brocho one should hold the food upon which the brocho is said (or the spoon or fork containing the food) in his right hand (left-handed people should hold it in their left hand) and only then say the Brocho. If he did not hold the food but it was before him when he said the brocho he does not need to say the brocho anew.

If one is not sure as to which brocho to say, he should not rely on saying the less exclusive brocho (such as Ha'adama or Shehakol for a food possibly requiring Ha'etz) unless there is absolutely no way for him to find out the Brocho, or it is a food where no decision has been reached by the Rabbonim themselves. Otherwise, when in doubt he should do without.
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